The notion that the automotive repair industry carries out dodgy or unscrupulous tactics is something we as mechanics have been trying to shake relentlessly for years.
It’s a reputation that a small portion of our industry has earned itself over years gone by that has unfortunately tainted the way a portion of the general public view our trade.
In the current day and age, the dodgy mechanic is something we’d like to believe is few and far between!
It’s evident that the technicians and workshops owners that are members of mechanic.com.au have a genuine passion for their craft and care for their customers and their vehicles, but what about the rest of the industry?
This led us to have a long hard think about what makes a 'Dodgy Mechanic'? What makes someone start to cut corners or lower the quality of their workmanship? Do some of us really start out this way or is it something that is bred over time?
We’ve put together a short list of the things we think can affect a technicians pride and standard of workmanship in this trade but we’d love some further input on this matter from the community in the Mechanic.com.au Private Facebook Group (Members Only)
Mentoring
The tradesman we spend our time with as an apprentice play a big role in shaping us as a technician. In some cases our mentors may not be the best role models for us. Maybe they are nearing retirement and their standard of workmanship has slipped. Maybe they never had the drive and passion for the trade that you do as an apprentice. If this is the case, it’s important to try and find someone in your workshop who sets or good example or at a bare minimum make a conscious effort to ask questions and do what you think is right.
Training
Training plays a big role in the way we carry out our work. If we don't understand a system or how to work on it correctly with the correct procedures, it’s easy to make mistakes or make bad decisions about how to conduct the repair process. Try and take every opportunity you can to engage in training and further your knowledge.
Incentives
Some workshops implement an incentive system, rewarding technicians for the extra work that they book out. While this may be a good way to motivate technicians to be productive, it can also promote ‘corner-cutting’ (Eg. Bending a pipe out of the way rather than removing it to save time) and encourage some technicians to cheat the system if not implemented and monitored appropriately.
Remuneration and Recognition
The pay scale for a technician can vary quite a bit in our industry and for those at the lower end who are genuinely efficient and professional technicians, this can be disheartening.
It’s not only having a wage that doesn't reflect your worth that can cause issues, but lack of recognition for the work that you carry out. The odd complement or word of encouragement from a workshop foreman or manager can go a long way.
Workshop Culture
The culture or vibe of a workshop plays a big role in the work it produces. Is your workshop a collaborative and uplifting environment? Do you get on with your other staff members and make work fun? A good workshop should feel like a team of friends, not a hostile or depressing environment where you are simply punching a clock.
Once you go down the path of doing the bare minimum or cutting corners, it’s very hard to change your ways and go back to doing things the right way.
Taking shortcuts doesn't pay, there is no job satisfaction and you will often end up re-working your jobs. It also makes the lives of other technicians in this trade harder; our customers are more critical of our work because they have been burned and they don’t trust us making it harder to win jobs.
Few mechanics who started in this trade with a passion for cars would be happy being called out on dodgy workmanship with a customer's vehicle.
If you're a good mechanic, take pride in your work and seek out opportunities you will go far in this trade.
What do you think makes a good tech turn into a hack? Anything to add to the list? Something you don't agree with?
Join the conversation in the Mechanic.com.au Private Facebook Group (Members Only)
